Washington: US President George W Bush assured Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas today he was "confident" about reaching an agreement on creating a Palestinian state before he leaves office.

"I assured the president that a Palestinian state's a high priority, for me and my administration a viable state, a state that doesn't look like Swiss cheese, a state that provides hope," said Bush, whose terms ends in January.

During brief statements in the Oval office, Abbas thanked the US president for reviving stalled Middle East peace talks at a November peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, but warned "we are in a race against time."

"We believe that you actually are truly seeking a true, genuine and lasting peace in the Middle East. And I am certain that you would like to see an agreement and settlement before the end of our term," said Abbas, to which Bush nodded agreement.

The two leaders agreed the project faces daunting obstacles, but expressed confidence that Israel and the Palestinians can, by year's end, at least agree on what such a state would look like.

"I cannot say that the road to peace is paved with flowers; it is paved with obstacles. But together, we will work very hard in order to eliminate those obstacles and achieve peace," said Abbas.

Source : PTI